Breaker-strip j



B. DARROW.

BREAKER STRIP FOR TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.26, I9I7.

Patented, D60. 13, 1921.

MSP/i655@ S5 Unirse STATES PATENT FFCE;

BURGESS DARROW, OF AKRON, OHEO, ASSGNOR TO Tlf-IE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBERCOMPANY, 0F AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BREAKER-STREP FOR TIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Bec, 13, 192i Application filed December 26, 1917. Serial No.208,888.

T0 all fte/0m t may concer/1L Be it known that l, Emisoras l citizen ofthe Unitec States, resA Akron, in the county of Summit and of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful lmprovements in Breakertitrips for Tires, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to pneumatic vehicle tires, and has moreparticularly ref erence to the breaker strip or bands which arefrequently interposed between the carcass of a tire of this type and thetread band thereof, in order to absorb the shocks of severe road usage.

It is Within the knowledge of the present inventor that it haspreviously been proposed to provide breaker strips or bands forpneumatic tires comprising a series of heavy cords laid in parallelismand circumferentially of the tire carcass just prior to the placement ofthe tread upon the carcass to complete the tire. lt is also Within theknowledge of the inventor that it has been proposed at various priortimes to reinforce the tread of pneumatic tires by filling them Withfabric or cords Whose function is to strengthen the tread against Wearand conse quently prolong the life of the tire,

But as a particular object of my present invention, l contemplate theprovision of a breaker strip so constructed as to occupy approximatelythe entire tread portion of the tire, this particular stripfunctioning;` not only to absorb and distribute more equally over theinner carcass of the tire those shocks incident to unusually severeservice, but also functioning to reinforce the tire tread throughout itsmaximum depth` thus increasing the longevity of the tire carcass fromtwo distinct standpoints, and by the provision of but a single device.

It is another object of this invention to provide a breaker band a tirecarcass which is of such a nature that it be built up into the treadspace Without being,v subject to certain Wellknoivn disadvantages toWhich tire 'reinforcements are open. For instance, any fabric or cordreinforcement, which is radial to the center of the tire, will act as aWick to absorb and conduct moisture when the tread is so Worn that thereinforcement is exposed, thus causingv such corrosion and decay as`will bring about the premature disintegration of the tire as a Whole.

On the other hand, I have discovered by experiment that cords whichreinforce the tread in a circumferential and unconnected fashion willnot act to conduct :fnoisture in- Wardly into the tire even when theyare en posed from cutting, or Wearing; o th. f ad. r/loreover, looselylaid circumferential cords provide a more desirable breaker strip, in asmuch as they do not rob the tire of the degrree of resiliencycommensurate 'with that degree of absorption of road shocks which is thefirst oflice of a breaker strip.

rlhe above and additional objects of similar nature, which ".vili beheroine". more specically treated, may be accom-- plished by such meansas re illustrated in the accompanying,y craWinp-H described in thefollowing* specificationY and then more particularly pointed out in theclaims ivhi c1| are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

W ith reference to the drawing', wherein there has been illustrated apreferred embodiment of the invention it is reduced to practicer` andthroughout the several views of which, similarV reference numbersdesignate correspon dine; parts:

Figure l is a diagrammatical perspective vieiv of a tire sectionshowing,` the use of the tread reinforcing` breaker strip contemplatedby this invention;

Fig'. 2 is a similar diagraimnatical scc` tional view of a tire ofdifferent tread construction, shoiving the application of this inventionthereto; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary secy tional view.

ln the preferred embodiment of my invention, l employ cord Winding, thecord beingof such strength and diameter as may be found appropriate bypractical experi-- ment, and being preferably furnished With a rubbercoating, although the present invention does not hinge upon this point.In

practisingthe invention, the first step is to the tread area such a verysubstantial kdistance as to form a more material reinforcement of thetread.

It Will be observed by reference to F ig. 3 of the drawing that the cordsections of each particular layer of cord are separated from the cordsections of the adjacent layer by a thin sheet of rubber 11. Over theWhole built-up mass of cord Winding I lay a relatively thin rubbercoating 7 Which is carried laterally to a knife edge 8 to merge into theentire mass of the carcass 6. The tire with its built-up tread is thenplaced into a mold and vulcanized in the usual manner, during whichprocess the tread rubber 7 is cured relatively hard While the variouslayers of cord Winding 5 are unified into a yielding mass, Which offersa tremendous resistance to any direct blow upon the tread of thecarcass, and which reinforces the tread to such an extent that itsWearing qualities are very considerably improved, While at the same timethe desirable resiliency of the carcass is not lost.

In F ig. 1 I have illustrated a tire constructed in accordance With theforegoing description, the tread of the tire being given a conformity inits cure Which is particularly appropriate for use upon tiresconstructed in the fashion I have just set forth. The tread design ofthis ligure includes a plurality of ribs 9 which cover the tread surfaceof the tire in circumferential parallelism. .It Will be seen that theembodiment of such a design Will not interfere with the continuity ofthe cord lengths of any layer of the cord Winding, and therefore,permits the most eliicient reinforcement of the tread.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a tire, the tread of which is formed ofsemi-separate blocks 10. It Will be apparent that in a tread of thischaracter, the cord lengths Would be exposed between circumferentialalined blocks 10 if the cord Winding were continued entirely throughoutthe tread portion of the tire in the same manner that vvas proposed inthe construction of Fig. l. Ac-

cordingly, I employ a cord winding 11 for this type of tire of suchdepth only that a portion of the tread is reinforced. In this manner Igain only a port-ion of the strength ofthe construction of F ig. 1, butat the same time lose only a portion of the resiliency lost by the firstconstruction.

It will then be apparent that the present invention comprehends a cordWinding to be circumferentially applied upon the tire in individuallengths, the composite Winding being of such depth as may be found mosteflicient to reinforce the tread of the tire While at'the same timeacting as a magnified breaker strip for the absorption of road shocks.which would otherwise be transmitted to the weaker tire carcass.

TWhat I claim is:

l. An elastic vehicle tire havingembedded in the tread area thereof, aseries of cords arranged in parallelism circumferentially of the tire, aportion or layer of said cord series occupying the position of theordinary breaker strip upon the carcass of the tire.

2. A pneumatic tire including, a. built up carcass portion, outerresilient slab having` a tread portion, and a combi] efl breaker stripand tread reinforcing unit comprising.;- rubler-ccated cords laid inparallelism circumt'erentially of the carcass and forming a plurality ofsuperposed layers extending from the outer surface of the carcass intothe tread portion of the slab.

3. il pneumatic tire including, a built up carcass portion, an outerresilient slab having raised non-skid tread portions, and a combinedbreaker strip and tread reinforcing unit comprising` rubber-coated cordslaid in parallelism circumferentially of the carcass and forming aplurality of superposed layers extending from the outer surface of thecarcass into the raised non-skid tread portions of the slab.

l. A pneumatic tire including, a built up carcass, an outer resilientslab having a tread portion, and a combined breaker strip and treadreinforcing unit comprising rubber-coated cords laid in parallelismcircumferentially of the carcass and forming a plurality of superposedlayers of successively diminishing Width extending from the outersurface of the carcass into the tread portion of the slab.

5. il pneumatic tire including, a built up carcass, an cuter resilientslab having raised non-skid tread portions, and a combined breaker stripand tread reinforcing unit comprising rubber-coated cords laid inparallelism circumferentially of the carcass and forming a plurality ofsuperposed layers of successively diminishing Width extending from theouter surface of the carcass into the raised tread portions of theslab.V

6. A pneumatic tire including, a built up carcass, an outer resilientslab having raised non-skid tread portions, and a combined breaker stripand tread reinforcing unit comprising annular alternating layers ofrubber and cord super-posed upon the carcass and extending into thenon-skid tread portions, the cords of the alternate layers lying` incircumferential parallelism.

. A pneumatic tire including, a built up carcass, an outer resilientslab having raised non-skid tread portions, and a combined breaker stripand tread reinforcing unit comprising annular alternating layers ofrubber and cord superposed upon the carcass and extending into thenon-skid tread portions, each layer being of less Width than thepreceding layer and the cords of thc alternate layers lying incircumferential parallelism.

8. A pneumatic tire including, a built up carcass, an outer resilientslab having raisedL annular non-skid tread portions, and a combinedbreaker strip and reinforcing unit comprisineannular alternating layersof rubber and cord super-posed upon the carcass and extending into theannular non skid tread portions, each layer being of less width than thepreceding layer and the cords o the alternate layers lying incircumferential parallelism.

9. ln a pneumatic tire including a fabricated carcass, a combinedbreaker strip and tread element mounted upon the carcass comprisingloosely laid cords extending circumferentially of the carcass anddisposed in superposed layers ot gradually decreasing Width, and anouter covering of rubber composition for said element arranged tooverlap the edges thereof for connection to the carcass.

l0. ln a pneumatic tire including a fabricated carcass, a combinedbreaker strip and tread element arranged upon the carcass comprisingloosely laid cords extending circumferentially of the carcass anddisposed in superposed layers of gradually decreasing Width, a layer ofvulcani/iable material between each layer of cords, and an outercovering of rubber composition for said element arranged to overlap theedges thereof 'for connection to the carcass.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name.

BURGESS DARROW.

